CCLEC – Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council – International Customs Organization

Capacity Building

Continually strengthening our human and physical capital through strategic planning and sustained training.

Information Technology

Realizing the vision of a highly networked Customs through the implementation of modern ICT solutions.

Border Protection

Promoting compliance to enhance global trade and travel through enhanced border security initiatives

Facilitation

Facilitating fairness and transparency through systematic and standardized controls.

BAHAMAS DEVASTATED BY HURRICANE DORIAN

NewsBy Elvira Samuel September 5, 2019

The Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) extends its heartfelt condolences to the Government and the people of the Bahamas for the tragic loss of lives and widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Dorian on Sunday 1^st September 2019.

The devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian is still unfolding but images and news from the Bahamas tell a very painful story, one which is becoming too familiar to our region.

Our thoughts and prayers are with our Customs colleagues and the people of Bahamas as they seek to rebuild their homes and lives.

Albert Sandy
PS CCLEC

Aug172019

CUSTOMS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS

ApplicationsBy Aaron Smith August 17, 2019

THE CARIBBEAN CUSTOMS LAW ENFORCEMENT COUNCIL (CCLEC)

SHORT TERM OPENINGS

CUSTOMS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS

The Junior Officer Basic (JOB) Course is a Customs induction course for new Customs officers. It was written in 1994 and has been used within regional customs administrations for 25 years. The JOB course content is dated and is in of upgrading. Currently, the JOB course content is available in both hard copy and digital format and has been amended in some cases by administrations to meet their needs.

The eLearning JOB Course project will standardize the course content so that member can access the most relevant and technically accurate material.

The CCLEC eLearning software has been designed to deliver two learning delivery models – The Virtual Classroom and Self-Paced.

Virtual Classroom

Through the use of online spaces, the virtual classroom facilitates live instruction, either one-to-one or for a group. This includes live video and audio streaming capabilities, an interactive whiteboard, file repositories for sharing additional resources and text chat options. Under this model a customs tutor is assigned and has full oversight of students and those enrolled. Through the tools of the platform, they interact and share feedback throughout the course. The instructor also evaluates the performance of students and give needed support.

Self-Paced

The Self-paced model is a student-centred learning approach which provides students with the tools and assets they need in order to learn at their own pace and make choices about the sequence and focus of their learning. Under this model, officers will be given specific access to material designed for self-paced learning as refresher training, onboarding and other orientation exercises as they enter new deployments.

Aug52019

RCS Train-the-Trainer Seminar held in St Lucia

Seminar, TrainingBy Elvira Samuel August 5, 2019

The new Regional Clearance System, RCS2019, will be deployed at the end of August and to support this initiative, the CCLEC convened a train-the-trainer seminar for regional Customs officers in St Lucia from July 29-31, 2019.

The seminar which was jointly sponsored by UKBF/ODA and CCLEC aimed at building local capacity to deliver RCS training. Eighteen officers from the English and Spanish speaking Caribbean were in attendance. In his opening remarks, the CCLEC Permanent Secretary, Mr Albert Sandy, reminded the participants that the system was commissioned by CCLEC members in 2000 because it was recognized then that there was a need to collect data on pleasure vessels plying the region for security purposes. The system however has evolved over the years and now also functions as an administrative tool for facilitating pleasure vessels, crew and passengers visiting the region.

May282019

CCLEC SIGNS TREATY TO ESTABLISH THE CARIBBEAN CUSTOMS ORGANISATION (CCO)

Meetings, NewsBy Aaron Smith May 28, 2019

The CCLEC 41^st Conference was held in Havana, Cuba on May 22-24, 2019 under the theme

‘The Pathway to Success: Strength through Unity’. This event was marked by the historical signing of the treaty which will establish the Caribbean Customs Organization (CCO).

The signing ceremony was attended by high level government officials including, on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr Menno Snel, Minister for Finance of Taxation and Customs of the Netherlands, Mrs Xiomara Ruiz-Maduro, Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Culture of Aruba, Mr Kenneth Gijsbertha, Minister of Finance of Curacao, and Mr Cornelius de Weever, Minister of Justice of Sint Maarten, who all signed for their respective countries. Ambassador to Cuba, Mr Andrew Brent, signed on behalf of the Bahamas, and Mr Antony Stokes, UK’s Ambassador to Cuba, signed on behalf of Anguilla, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Representatives from Customs, Mr Raju Boddu, Comptroller of Customs for Antigua, Mr Nelson E. Cordovés Reyes, Head of Customs for Cuba, Mr Cesar Zorrilla, Manager of the Technical Deliberative Department of the General Customs Directorate for the Dominican Republic, and Mr Fritz Alcindor, Deputy Director General of Haiti signed on behalf of their respective governments.

After three decades of operating under an MOU, members of the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) agreed that it was of paramount importance, given the opportunities and challenges presented by technological advancements, to formalize the legal basis for sharing information. The MOU to establish the CCLEC was signed in 1989, an MOU which, although not legally binding, served the organization in meeting its objectives to improve the overall professionalism of its members through cooperation, sharing of best practices, human resource development, modernization, automation, harmonization of processes and procedures and information/intelligence sharing. However, global security challenges, the need for automatic sharing of information and the advent of several new trade arrangements means that the CCLEC’s role will become more complex. To this end, the need for a more robust legally binding mechanism to improve information and intelligence exchange was necessary.

Mar82019

CCO Logo Contest

FeaturedBy Aaron Smith March 8, 2019

RULES:

Only current employees of Customs administrations that are members of CCLEC are eligible to compete
Competition is open to all age groups
Proof of employment is required with submission (a copy of Staff ID will suffice)
Submissions received after midnight (Atlantic Standard Time) on 12^th April 2019 will not be considered

GUIDELINES

Design must be original creation in digital format
Colour: the predominant color should be dark blue with optional white accent. Addition of one complimentary color can be chosen based in your creative design
The words “Caribbean Customs Organisation” must be included in the design
The objectives and character of the Caribbean Customs Organisation should be considered (https://www.cclec.org/cco-treaty-document/)
Font design should not be scripted.

3/8/2019

Feb172019

CCLEC / UKBF Middle Management Training – Miami

General, MeetingsBy News Editor February 17, 2019

The Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) with funding from the United Kingdom Border Force (UKBF) conducted a Middle Management and Operational Leadership Course, aimed at Supervisory staff of member Customs administrations. This course was delivered at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Miami from 12^th -14^th February 2019. Eighteen middle managers from the Greater Antilles, Dutch Antilles, the OECS, Central and South America, including Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Guyana attended.

CARMS a UK based human resource development company was contracted to deliver the training course. CARMS tutors comprised academic and ex law enforcement professionals, with many years of experience in consultancy, training delivery, mentoring, and support services.

The following topics and learning outcomes which were demonstrably achieved were based on European Union Management Competencies.

Understanding the current and future issues and demands of a manager and the organisation
Recognize the need for good leadership practices and the effects different leadership styles can have on individuals and teams
Recognize the need for good Management practices and the effects different management approaches can have on individuals and teams
Explore the roles and responsibilities of a manger in the operational setting

Jan252019

International Customs Day Message – 26th January 2019

GeneralBy News Editor January 25, 2019

The Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council congratulates its member administrations and the global Customs community on its observance of International Customs Day 2019.

Customs administrations in various forms have existed from time immemorial. Governments establish Customs and Excise departments for the purposes of tax collection, trade facilitation, regulation of the importation/exportation of restricted and prohibited goods, the protection of society and in more recent times terrorism detection and interdiction.

The World Customs Organization’s slogan for International Customs Day (ICD) 2019 is “SMART borders for seamless Trade, Travel and Transport.” CCLEC readily adopts same and challenges all its members to embrace these principles and strive to implement practices and processes that bring smart borders into realization.

The acronym SMART stands for: Secure, Measurable, Automated, Risk Management-based and Technology-driven. It requires Customs to innovatively drive the development of frameworks, standards and practices both academically and practically, that will greatly enhance the speed of processing and facilitating the delivery of goods, passengers and conveyances, while securing same. This creates a more enabling economic environment for national development, equity in trade and societal protections can produce safe and productive societies.

Dec142018

WCO Conference on the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC)

GeneralBy News Editor December 14, 2018

The World Customs Organization (WCO) in collaboration with the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council and St Lucia Customs hosted the first WCO Conference on the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) for the Caribbean, at the Bay Gardens Resort, St. Lucia, on 26-30 November 2018. The conference brought together Customs Administrations from Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Belize, BVI, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

The objective of this Conference was to enhance the general knowledge of the RKC among Customs administrations in the Caribbean region, to identify accession and implementation gaps and challenges, as well as exploring potential solutions for accession to the RKC.

The World Customs Organization’s Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) brings together all WCO tools to bear on Customs modernization in support of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) for the simplification and harmonization of Customs processes.

Dec32018

International Anti-Corruption Day 2018.

GeneralBy Aaron Smith December 3, 2018

Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects all countries. Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development and contributes to governmental instability.

Corruption attacks the foundation of democratic institutions by distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating bureaucratic quagmires whose only reason for existing is the soliciting of bribes.

Economic development is stunted because foreign direct investment is discouraged and small businesses within the country often find it impossible to overcome the “start-up costs” required because of corruption.

International Anti – Corruption Day

Aug72018

Our Heartfelt Sympathies to Euan Stewart’s Family

GeneralBy Aaron Smith August 7, 2018

The CCLEC family is deeply saddened by the news of Mr. Euan Stewart’s death – the first Permanent Secretary of CCLEC. He passed away on Friday, August 3rd 2018 at his home in the UK.

In 1999 Mr Stewart was seconded by H. M. Customs & Excise, United Kingdom, to head the CCLEC Secretariat as Permanent Secretary (PS). Prior to his attachment to CCLEC, he served as Deputy Comptroller of Customs in the British Virgin Islands for a number of years.

He was a member of the CCLEC Training Development Team which developed the CCLEC Junior Officer’s Basic (JOB) course and Commercial Fraud course. He was also the main architect behind the concept of the CCLEC clearance system for small vessels known as RCS.

His legacy will no doubt be Customs modernization in the region. Although this has been a slow process, his contribution to capacity building, automation (including ASYCUDA), and enforcement forced many countries in the region to embrace reform and modernization of Customs.

He was a good example of a PS, statesman, strategic thinker and leader of men. He was firm and yet so friendly. He touched our lives and careers, significantly. May he and his ideals remain in our hearts forever.
Our deepest sympathies are with the family in this difficult time

CCLEC NEWSLETTERS

UPCOMING EVENTS

RECENT FORUM ACTIVITY

SLIDE SHOW

Document Library

File	Date
15 - 2018 - Cocaína oculta dentro de latas de Lasco Jack Mackerel - Spanish	21-11-2018 19:54
15 - 2018 - La cocaïne dissimulée dans les boîtes de Lasco Jack Mackerel - French	21-11-2018 19:53
15 - 2018 - Cocaine Concealed inside Tins of Lasco Jack Mackerel - English	21-11-2018 19:51
Monthly Intel Report - June 2018 (Spanish)	25-07-2018 14:22
Monthly Intel Report - June 2018	25-07-2018 14:19

CCLEC AT A GLANCE

CCLEC’s commitment to capacity building is evident through sustained investments in regional Customs staff. CCLEC recognizes that the fulfillment of its mission and objectives is dependent on the strength and capabilities of this most precious resource. This commitment to training began as early as 1993 through participation with the WCO in the Diagnostic Study. Following this, some seven member countries benefited from Customs Reform Modernization (CRM) programs completed by CCLEC.

As part of its pledge to developing leadership, in 2014, CCLEC introduced the Management Training Program, through a Certificate in Customs Management and the Executive Diploma in Customs Management facilitated by Charles Sturt University in Australia.

In 2016 CCLEC launched its eLearning platform dedicated to the delivery of the two-tier training, providing introductory Customs courses as well as training in Trade Facilitation. Over the years, CCLEC has reiterated the need to effectively develop the skills and knowledge of staff. The organization maintains its C2C training commitment through the inclusion of a Training Needs Analysis Form located on its website.

The fight against the illegal drug trade remains a key focus of CCLEC and was the basis for its formation. CCLEC recognizes that illegal activity such as illegal drug smuggling; human trafficking; and money laundering adversely affects economic growth and sustainability. The Illegal drug trade in particular, severely threatens health and social life. Based on statistics collected from law enforcement agencies, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reported that between 2013 and 2014, over 293,962 kilos of illegal drugs were seized in the Caribbean region. Of these, marijuana amounted to over 47,486 kilos. In 2016, Guadeloupe Customs Officers discovered some 50 kilos of cocaine in a fish container around the port area. These statistics reflect the urgency to strengthen border controls; to tighten security at ports and coastal areas in the Caribbean. CCLEC continually researches initiatives and is keen on on the adoption of emerging technologies to increase security.

CCLEC’s law enforcement arm employs assimilated information communication technology networks to combat impending threats. Crisis prevention and crisis management are the overarching aims of its intelligence models. These are realized through a number of key strategies, namely:

Effective information-seeking strategies
Monitoring and early detection
Information sharing
Swift data collection
Interpretation and analysis
Intelligence and law enforcement training

CCLEC views the development of intelligence structures as an integral block in its capacity building.

Collaboration is essential to the effectiveness of any organization. Over the years, CCLEC has maintained ties with regional and international bodies and has forged partnerships with some sixteen global agencies. CCLEC’s linkages extend to all actors in global trade and travel: government, business, academia and the citizenry. Collaboration is both extensive and rewarding. Opportunities exist to establish best practices and crisis prevention is achieved by drawing from existing case studies and research. CCLEC has drawn from additional benefits of collaboration among them training, information-sharing, short and long-term planning, bilateral agreements, and policy formation and implementation.